It is spring in Japan – and that is official being marked by the annual opening of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the former official residence of the country’s emperors.<br /><br />The main gate was opened to the public for the first time in 17 years to mark the 80th birthday of Emperor Akihito.<br /><br />Almost 1,000 people turned up on the first morning to catch a glimpse of what court life was like under former emperors.
